PARAMEDICS IN LAMBTON, ONTARIO, HAVE TAKEN ON a noble project for their community. Ontario’s last remaining horse-drawn ambulance is housed in the Lambton Heritage Museum in the Great Bend area. The museum acquired the ambulance about 20 years ago, but never had the funds or ability to finish restoration of it.
The Sarnia Observer tells us:
Lambton’s paramedics have taken on the task of raising funds to help protect what remains of the original structure.
With a fundraising goal of $3,000 to $6,000, the paramedics would like to see the ambulance fully restored. Work would include structural stabilization, cosmetic repairs, the rebuilding of one side, the installation of brass coach lamps and the addition of a fiberglass horse.
To date, they have raised a total of $1,600 from a variety of personal donations and special events. Corporate donations have also been made by Allied Medical, Canadian Emergency News and Crestline Ambulance.
“We are hopeful that we are able to raise a full $6,000 by the end of the year so that we can restore this ambulance to its former glory,” said Tom Moore, operations supervisor with the County of Lambton Emergency Medical Services Department and the paramedic who heads the fundraising campaign.
The ambulance was built in 1908 by the Petrolia Wagon Works Co. and was in use up until the first motorized ambulance was put in service.
The ambulance was originally commissioned by the Town of Petrolia and was used to bring the sick and injured to the hospital. It was kept with the fire apparatus at Victoria Hall. The men working in the oil industry surrounding Petrolia were particularly vulnerable to injury in such a dangerous occupation. The ambulance was needed to go out into the oil fields around town to retrieve injured workers and transport them in relative comfort.
If you wish to contribute to the restoration fund, send your donation to:
Lambton Heritage Museum
10035 Museum Road, R.R. #2
Grand Bend, ON Canada N0M 1T0
Indicate that it is to be directed to the “Horse Drawn Ambulance Restoration Fund”
Firegeezer says: $6,000 doesn’t sound like a whole lot, does it? Let’s try and put them over the top. I’m going to send them $10 tomorrow. Anybody want to match me?
Lambton EMS WEBSITE.
